Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Baranski's Mame Won't Open a New Window on BroadwayFor the last several weeks, much of the entertainment buzz in the busy DC-New York corridor centered on whether the Eric Schaeffer-helmed Kennedy Center revival of Mame starring Christine Baranski would transfer to Broadway's Palace Theatre. The official word appears to be that it won't, according to a Playbill.com story published earlier this morning.

The production's costs apparently are much too prohibitive to justify a brief 20-week engagement. The Kennedy Center itself spent more than $5 million to produce the show, and it's visibly apparent to anyone who has had a chance to see the eye candy-filled tuner this summer in Washington. This has to be particularly disappointing for Baranski, who has enthusiastically talked at length about how she'd enjoy the opportunity to take this to New York.

But lest her New York fans lament not having a chance to see her anytime soon on the stage, Baranski is in talks with the Manhattan Theatre Club to perform in a Paul Rudnick play. Keep your fingers crossed for that one coming to fruition.

For anyone who has tickets for the current sold-out engagement of Mame in our nation's capital, count yourself as truly fortunate to be among a select group of theatregoers able to see this outstanding musical before it becomes history on July 2.

Broadway's 2010-11 Theatrical Season

About Me

As someone who has been involved in both politics and public relations, it's no wonder I love watching theatre. Good or bad, it's the raw energy of seeing a live performance that gets my adrenaline pumping. From the moment I saw my very first Broadway show ("Annie" in London in 1979), I was hooked. Now I see as many as 70 shows each year ranging from soaring musicals to two-hander plays. And these eyes just may be in an audience near you!